Engine head test stand

ABSTRACT

A SUPPORT SELECTIVELY ROTATABLE CONNECTED TO A GROUND ENGAGING LEG STRUCTURE AND HAVING A PRESSURE ACTUATED HOLD-DOWN MEANS CARRIED THEREON FOR ENGAGING THE TOP SIDE OF AN ENGINE HEAD. UPSTANDING SEALING ELEMENTS ARE PROVIDED ON THE SUPPORT FOR SEALING OPENINGS IN THE ENGINE HEAD WHILE A LIQUID CONDUIT IS CARRIED ON THE HOLDDOWN FOR SEALINGLY ENGAGING THE INLET OPENING OF THE ENGING HEAD WHEN THE PRESSURE MEANS IS ACTUATED. A PAIR OF LEGS EXTEND UPWARDLY ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE HOLD-DOWN RECTANGULAR SHAPED FRAME AND ONE LEG IS ADAPTED TO BE LOCKED TO THE SUPPORT WHILE A CROSS PIECE IS CONNECTED TO THE OPPOSITE END OF THE LEG FOR BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE OTHER LEG TO PERMIT THE PRESSURE MEANS CARRED ON THE CROSS PIECE TO BE PIVOTED AWAY FROM THE TOP OF THE SUPPORT TO PERMIT ACCESS ONTO AND OFF OF THE SUPPORT. AN ADAPTER PLATE MAY BE PLACED ON THE SUPPORT TO SELECTIVELY SEAL THE BOTTOM SIDE OF OTHER ENGINE HEADS.

pt- 28, 1 H. 0. WILKINSON 3,608,369

ENGINE HEAD TEST STAND Filed Nov. 6, 1969 United States Patent 3,608,369 ENGINE HEAD TEST STAND Herbert 0. Wilkinson, 614 E. 2nd, Ankeny, Iowa 50021 Filed Nov. 6, 1969, Ser. No. 874,442 Int. Cl. G01m 3/06 US. Cl. 73119R 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A support selectively rotatably connected to a ground engaging leg structure and having a pressure actuated hold-down means carried thereon for engaging the top side of an engine head. Upstanding sealing elements are provided on the support for sealing openings in the engine head while a liquid conduit is carried on the holddown for sealingly engaging the inlet opening of the engine head when the pressure means is actuated. A pair of legs extend upwardly on opposite sides of the hold-down rectangular shaped frame and one leg is adapted to be looked to the support while a cross piece is connected to the opposite end of the leg for being pivotally connected to the other leg to permit the pressure means carried on the cross piece to be pivoted away from the top of the support to permit access onto and off of the support. An adapter plate may be placed on the support to selectively seal the bottom side of other engine heads.

This invention involves a convenient test stand structure for quickly testing an engine head for determining whether it has any leaks in the coolant chamber particularly around the injector sleeves. It is common to bore out the injector sleeve when new ones are inserted into the engine head and thus the possibility of leakage around the' injector sleeves may occur.-This invention will permit applying water pressure to the engine head while sealing all other engine head openings to determine if there are any leaks.

The support for the engine head includes upstanding sealer elements which will project into openings in the engine head and for other engines other adapter plates may be layed on the support having appropriate sealing elements. A universal hold-down frame is carried on the lower end of a piston operated by an air pump and thus will uniformly apply pressure throughout the length of the engine head to maintain it in sealing engagement with the sealing elements on the support or support plate. A conduit is carried on the hold-down frame for automatically aligning itself with the water inlet opening on the engine head to circulate the water throughout the engine head. A pair of valves are provided to permit escape of air in the engine head upon initial introduction of water into the coolant chamber of the head.

The test permits rotation of the support to inspect the bottom side of the engine head for leaks and additionally the pressure means connected to the holddown structure may be pivoted away to permit access to the support or support plate.

These and other features and advantages of this invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the following description when taken into consideration with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the engine head test stand in use;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 22 and showing the unit pivoted away from its normal upright position as illustrated in the dash line position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view showing the hold-down 3,608,369 Patented Sept. 28, 1971 structure pivoted away from over the top of the support or support plate;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the support and appropriate adapter support plate that can be placed thereon for use with other engine heads; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along 5-5 in FIG. 1.

The engine head test stand of this invention is referred to in FIG. 1 generally by the reference numeral 10 and includes a pair of inverted V-shaped leg units 12 and 14 oppositely disposed of a support plate 16. The support plate 16 includes upstanding end plates 18 and 20 on which outwardly extending sleeves 22 and 24 are mounted to receive inwardly extending trunnions 26 mounted on an ear 28 at the vertex of the inverted V- shaped leg units 12 and 14.

The support 16 may be locked in its normal upright horizontal position by a pin 30 adapted to extend through the ear 28 and an inwardly extending sleeve 32 adapted to be in alignment with an opening 34 in the upstanding plate 18 as best seen in FIG. 5.

The support plate 16 as seen in FIG. 2 includes appropriately spaced upwardly extending sealer elements of rubber or the like 36 adapted to be received in openings 38 in the bottom side 39 of an engine head 40.

A pair of hold-down support legs 42 and 44 are secured to the support plate 16 with the leg 42 being detachably connected thereto by a pin 46 adapted to extend through aligned sleeve portions 48 and 50 as seen in FIG. 1. The upper end of the leg 42 is integrally connected to a cross plate portion 52 pivotally connected by a pin 54 to the upper end of the leg 44 which is rigidly connected to the opposite side of the support plate 16.

An air pump 60 is mounted on the cross plate 52 and includes a pressure gauge 62 and a manually operable valve 64 in an inlet line 65 connected to a suitable air supply not shown. A piston 66 extends downwardly from the air pump 60 and includes a clevis 68 for pivotal connection through a pin 70 to a cross plate 72 extending across the center of a hold-down structure 74 generally rectangular in shape. The hold-down structure thus includes longitudinal side walls 76 and 78 and opposite end Walls 80 and 82. The cross plates 72, the end walls 80 and 82 each have appropriate bottom cut-out portions 84 to give clearance on the top side of the head 40 where needed.

A water conduit is rigidly secured to the longitudinal side wall 78 and is carried therewith and includes a bottom annular flange 94 on which a rubber or the like sealing element 96 is carried for engagement with an opening 98 in the top of the head 40.

Thus it is seen in operation that the head 40 is placed on the support plate 16 such that the sealing elements 36 close the bottom openings in the head. The holddown unit 74 is carried by the cross member 52 which includes a handle 100 and thus may be pivoted about the axis 54 to move the hold-down member 74 into engagement with the top side of the head 40. The operation of the valve 64 in the airline 66 will cause the hold-down member 74 to uniformly apply pressure to the top of the head 40 and also bring the water inlet conduit 90 into sealing engagement with the opening 98 in the head 40. Operation of the Water valve 102 Will permit introduction of water 104 into the head coolant chamber and operation of the valve 106 will permit escape of any air in the chamber such that the chamber may be occupied by water under pressure. Any desired water pressure may be maintained in the chamber and upon rotation to the position of FIG. 2 the bottom side of the head may be inspected for water leakage particularly around the injector sleeves and the like. The rotation of the support 16 and the head thereon is accomplished by removal of the pin 30 as illustrated in FIG. 5.

An alternate arrangement includes the use of adapter plates 16A or 16B which can rest directly on the support plate 16. Support plate 16 as shown is suitable for use with six cylinder engines while the adapter plate 16A is designed for V-8 engines and the adapter plate 16B is used for two cylinder engines. It is seen that alignment or guide elements 110 are provided on the adapter plates 16A and 16B for embracing the leg 44 and thus to hold the adapter plates in place on the support plate 16. Additionally, outer end elements 112 are adapted to extend on the outside of upstanding abutment elements 114 carried on the support plates 16 to further limit movement of the adapter plates 16A and 16B. It is noted that one or both of the adapter plates 16A and 16B may be stacked on the support plate 16 at the same time if desired.

I claim:

1. An engine head test stand comprising,

an engine head support,

spaced apart sealing means on said support for closing selected engine head openings,

a hold-down means for engagement with an engine head in opposed relationship to said support, pressure means for maintaining pressure on said holddown means,

said pressure means being mounted on a frame structure adapted to extend over said hold-down means when engaging a head, said frame structure including upstanding legs on said support interconnected by a bridge portion over said head, and said pressure means being secured to said bridge portion, and

a fluid conduit in communication with a pressure source adapted to communicate with an opening in an engine head.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein one of said legs is detachably connected to said support and the other leg is pivotally connected to said bridge portion whereby said frame and pressure means may be selectively pivoted away from over said support.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said support is pivotally secured to a leg structure adapted to engage a ground surface whereby said support may be rotated to an inspection position, and locking means for maintaining said support in a normal up position.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein said hold-down means includes a rectangular shaped structure adapted to extend around adjacent the periphery of said support and engage the top of an engine head, and a cross piece in the center in engagement with said pressure means.

5. The structure of claim 4 wherein said pressure means includes an air cylinder and piston and said piston has an outer lower end pivotally engaging said cross piece of said hold-down whereby said hold-down structure is adapted to position itself uniformly against a head upon the actuation of said pressure means.

-6. The structure of claim 1 wherein said fluid conduit is secured to said hold-down means and movable therewith and includes sealing means for engagement with an opening in a head upon said pressure means being actuated.

7. The structure of claim 3- wherein said leg structure includes oppositely disposed inverted V-shaped end leg units having inwardly extending trunnions on which said support is rotatably mounted, and said locking means is adapted to extend through a sleeve on one of said leg units and engage an opening in said support remotely of said adjacent trunnion.

8. The structure of claim 1 wherein an adapter support plate is positioned upon said support and includes upstanding sealing means for engagement with openings in an engine head, and guide elements on said adapter plate for embracing said other leg of said frame structure.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,360,984 1/1968 Salsbury et al. 73 49.7 2,682,860 7/1954 Ruehl 73-46X JERRY W. MYRACLE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 73-49.7 

